Saturday, July 30, 2011

Jang Group/GEO TV Incite "Murders" & Dawn News "Censors".

KARACHI: The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) and Karachi Union of Journalists (KUJ) on Wednesday strongly condemned a series of attacks on the Geo television establishment and its workers and burning of some copies of daily Jang and The News across Sindh. They termed such acts of terrorism as intolerable and against the freedom of expression and freedom of the press. According to a press release issued here on Wednesday, PFUJ President Pervaiz Shaukat and Secretary General Amin Yousuf said in a planned manner, activists of two nationalist parties attacked the bureau offices of Geo TV in Hyderabad, Sukkur, Larkana, Khairpur, Daharki, Thatta, Jacobabad, Tando Muhammad Khan and Nawabshah. The arsonists and miscreants forcibly entered the offices and damaged equipment besides manhandling the staffers present at the time of attacks. These attacks were construed as an attack on the freedom of expression guaranteed under the Constitution of Pakistan, freedom of the press and ethics and norms of the society, the PFUJ’s secretary general said. “Media is duty bound to report all events and trends, including political and national trends, incidents of separatism by any group and by informing the people about graffiti and others calling for a separate province etc was a bounden duty, which Geo television carried out,” the press release further said. “It is the right of people to know if anything has happened in their city and province and it has always been the media which highlights dangerous trends and demands so that authorities can be forewarned,” the PFUJ’s secretary general said, adding that targeting any mediaperson or house would be taken as an attack on all and the PFUJ would do, whatever it could, to preserve and protect the freedom of press and freedom of expression. REFERENCE: PFUJ, KUJ condemn attacks on Geo, Jang Thursday, July 28, 2011 http://www.thenews.com.pk/TodaysPrintDetail.aspx?ID=7706&Cat=13&dt=7/28/2011

DawnTV was airing Arshad Sharif's talk show Reporter. The topic today was growth of Islamic militancy, especially Jundullah within Pakistan's military and its connection with Jaish-e-Muhammad and Lashkar-e-Tayyaba. He started by showing a documentary on how Jundullah started in Quetta cantonment, how it spread across different formations of the military, showing some footage that looked original. The discussants with Arshad were Air Marshall Shahzad Choudhry, Zahid Hussain and ret Gen Hamid Nawaz. As the documentary started, we saw, Hamid nawaz getting up and leaving. Arshad then showed another short documentary which gave public sentiments on such trends in the military. Then came a commercial break. After the break, the viewers saw that the program has been taken off the air. Instead Dawn started airing a completely different and old episode of Reporter. Clearly, the live program was censored. And clearly, from the top military brass. What does the military have to hide that needed this censoring? Any comments from anyone knowledgeable? I truly fear for the life of the brave journalist who had prepared the documentary. REFERENCE: Arshad Sharif of DAWN TV under threat 29 July, 2011 http://low-intensity-conflict-review.blogspot.com/2011/07/arshad-sharif-of-dawn-tv-under-threat.html

KARACHI - The remarks of a private TV channel’s famous anchorperson, Sohail Warraich during his programme ‘Mere Mutabiq’, in which he explored the possibility of Sindh dividing into a new province, enraged people throughout the province and protesters in large numbers took to the streets on Sunday to express their annoyance. Warraich’s remarks on his TV programme, which was broadcasted on Saturday, spread like wildlife throughout the province and thousands of SMSs started doing the rounds, condemning the programme and the channel. Activists of civil society organisations and Sindhi nationalist parties as well as ordinary citizens unleashed scathing criticism on the anchorperson as well as the TV channel, Geo News. Hundreds of protesters blocked the Thatta-bound main National Highway for around an hour and chanted slogans against the TV channel. Sindhi nationalist parties including Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz (JSQM), Sindh Taraqi Pasand Party (STPP), Awami Tehreek and others termed the TV programme as an attack on the unity of Sindh and issued a protest call against the channel. REFERENCE: Sohail Warraich loses his fan club in Sindh Amar Guriro http://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2011/07/sohail-warraich-loses-his-fan-club-in-sindh/

Delivering a live telephonic address from London on the foundation day of Muttahida Qaumi Movement at Lal Qila Ground, Azizabad, on Tuesday, Altaf Hussain gave a message of brotherhood, love and affection, saying that the spirit of tolerance needs to be inculcated among each member of both the MQM and PPP. Presenting a peace formula, Altaf Hussain said that all the religious and political parties of the country should send five-member delegations to Karachi for the sake of restoring peace, adding: “If a single bullet is fired anywhere in the city, these delegations should be sent to the concerned area to see by themselves as to who is spoiling the peace of Karachi”. He particularly invited Jamat-e-Islami, Tehrik-e-Insaf, Pir Saheb Pagara of PML-F, Sheikh Rasheed of Awami Muslim League and PML(N) to come to Karachi for taking out a rally for peace and unity. He also invited Asfandyar Wali to come to Karachi for the sake of peace as Karachi happens to be the economic hub of the country and it belongs to each and every person living in this city. REFERENCE: Altaf warns PPP not to push MQM to the wall Fasahat Mohiuddin Wednesday, July 27, 2011 http://www.thenews.com.pk/TodaysPrintDetail.aspx?ID=59659&Cat=4&dt=7/27/2011

HYDERABAD, July 28: Activists of a number of nationalist parties held a protest march on Thursday against a private television channel for hosting a show on the issue of a new province in Sindh. Supporters of Paigham Sindh Forum marched from Qasimabad to Hyderabad press club and demonstrated at Naseem Nagar chowk, Wahdat colony, Gul Centre and Hyder Chowk They raised slogans against the media group and burnt its effigy in front of the press club. They removed a signboard of the channel. Most of the protesters carried flags of the Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz. Speaking on the occasion, JSQM chairman Basheer Khan Qureshi, Mohammad Rahimoon, Dr Niaz Kalani, Arisar group leader Nawaz Khan Zounr, Punhal Sario and Akash Mallah said through its history of thousands of years Sindh had always remained united and independent. REFERENCE: Nationalists vent anger against TV channel Bureau Report | From the Newspaper (13 hours ago) Today http://www.dawn.com/2011/07/29/nationalists-vent-anger-against-tv-channel.html

“We will not accept any conspiracy against our motherland,” they said. The debate hosted by the channel, they said, had hurt the feelings of the Sindhi nation. The people of Sindh considered it a sin to even think about a division of Sindh. They said that unless the media group tendered an apology to the Sindhi nation, they would continue to voice their anger against the group. They accused Punjab of hatching a conspiracy against Sindh. Basheer Khan Qureshi called upon the Urdu-speaking people not to become part of this conspiracy. He said the MQM must make its stance clear in public. He accused the PPP of being an agent of Punjab and said that while innocent people were being killed in Karachi, the government was claiming that everything was fine. He said terrorists were being produced by the PPP Aman Committee, ANP and the Afaq group. He said the media group would have to apologise to the Sindhi nation and stop using the words of Karachi and Sindh as separate entities. Other leaders also severely criticised the media group. STP:Activists of Sindh Taraqi Passand Party led by Dr Abdul Hameed Memon, Zafar Solangi and Sachal Gopang took out a procession from the old campus to the press club. They warned the media group of consequences if it did tender an apology to the Sindhi nation. REFERENCE: Nationalists vent anger against TV channel Bureau Report | From the Newspaper (13 hours ago) Today http://www.dawn.com/2011/07/29/nationalists-vent-anger-against-tv-channel.html

KARACHI, May 24: DawnNews, Pakistan’s first English language TV news channel, will commence its test transmission on Friday (May 25) evening from its head office in Karachi. The 24-hour DawnNews broadcast will be fed by a network of newsrooms and studios located in Karachi, Islamabad and Lahore and supported by a string of news bureaus in other cities and towns in the country. Owned by Pakistan Herald Publications (Pvt) Ltd, the publishers of DAWN, the network has over 300 journalists working under the Director News, Mr Azhar Abbas. Mr Abbas has had a distinguished career in electronic and print journalism. He was formerly managing director of GEO News. The network also has a team of veteran journalists and qualified newcomers demonstrating a strong reliance on agenda-broadening areas, such as environment, education and fine arts. “The synergy of a young generation of film-makers and news journalists at DawnNews is expected to gradually transform Pakistan’s information scene,” says a spokesman for Pakistan Herald Publications. REFERENCE: DawnNews TV’s test transmission from today May 25, 2007 Friday Jamadi-ul-Awwal 08, 1428 http://archives.dawn.com/dawnftp/72.249.57.55/dawnftp/2007/05/25/top4.htm

“In our endeavour to establish DawnNews we are enormously helped by our legacy – The legacy of DAWN, that was founded by the Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah on 14th August 1947 in Karachi, the same day our nation was born. We believe that by facilitating access to information of the highest quality and with a defined commitment to clarity and accuracy, we can enable Pakistan’s young generations to assume their place as informed citizens of the world.” The commencement of test transmission for the public is expected to be marked by a simple ceremony at the headquarters of DawnNews in Karachi. The news channel is being transmitted free to air as of Friday and may be viewed in Pakistan either via cable or through a satellite receiver. Its satellite footprint covers a wide area stretching from the Middle East across South Asia, up to Malaysia and Singapore. At present the transmission is being conducted courtesy a temporary up-linking permission granted by Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra). The prospects for acquiring a permanent licence for DawnNews inched a few steps ahead last week when a public advertisement issued by Pemra announced the holding of mandatory public hearings in Karachi on May 30, usually set up prior to the issuance of a licence. REFERENCE: DawnNews TV’s test transmission from today May 25, 2007 Friday Jamadi-ul-Awwal 08, 1428 http://archives.dawn.com/dawnftp/72.249.57.55/dawnftp/2007/05/25/top4.htm

“HE was expressing his personal opinion,” was the explanation given after Lt-Gen (retd) Nadeem Ahmad appeared to make a definitive statement exonerating the army and intelligence services of any role in hiding Osama bin Laden in Abbottabad. Gen Nadeem Ahmad is among the members of the commission of inquiry into the American operation which, the US says, led to the killing of the Saudi-born leader of Al Qaeda in May this year. The commission is headed by Justice Javed Iqbal, one of the most senior judges of the Supreme Court. The view the retired general was expressing may be widely shared by all and sundry but there was one tiny problem. He is a member of the commission of inquiry. It would have been more appropriate for him to speak through the final findings of the inquiry. Or, if he had divergent views, once the report had been made public. Then of course there was that famous Zulfikar Mirza ‘nangay bhookay’ (‘shirtless and famished’) statement as the Sindh senior minister chose to describe those who had migrated in 1947 and beyond from the Hindu-majority areas of India to Sindh. And of course his remarks about MQM leader Altaf Hussain added booster rockets to the affront. In any case, Dr Mirza has few rivals in voluntarily making fiery speeches but that terrible evening at the Awami National Party Sindh leader Shahi Syed’s home was an exception. Perhaps, finding the doctor a bit unsteady on his feet, it was a TV reporter who is said to have ignited the incendiary Mirza. Zulfikar Mirza was not scheduled to speak and was being guided away from a battery of microphones by Shahi Syed when the TV reporter shouted: “Mirza kiskay danday, kiskay isha’aron par chaltay ho?” (Mirza, whose tune are you dancing to?)

That’s when Mirza turned, pushed away those trying to guide him in a different direction, and arrived at the microphones and the centre of camera frames to say “I fear nobody” and went on to utter the words which were blamed as the trigger for the ‘spontaneous’ violence that claimed more than a dozen lives. The violent protest dropped off dramatically and normality was restored as if by magic once, 36 hours later, the MQM leader snapped his fingers. Of course, by this time Mirza had had to feast on a huge humble pie, issue a public apology, and both he and his party describe his remarks as ‘personal views’. So, while the Abbottabad inquiry commission member and the Sindh minister’s remarks were quickly described as ‘personal views’ in a damage-limitation exercise by his party, what about the TV ‘journalist’ whose ‘naughty’ question led to such bloody consequences? Well, one can stick one’s neck out and say that if ever the TV reporter’s channel was put on the spot, it would also perhaps opt for the ‘personal opinion’ subterfuge. But how ‘personal’ are/were the spoken (and in case of the TV channel unspoken) words?

Let’s take up the latest. The general is a solider whose loyalty to the institution that gave him so much during service and continues to bestow much honour and privilege on him even in retirement must be beyond reproach. When, after dithering for days on end, the government agreed to appoint a commission of inquiry into the Abbottabad attack and killing of the Al Qaeda leader, its composition gave a hint as to who the major stakeholders were. This is not to cast aspersions on its members or their intentions but the general was chosen perhaps to look out for the interests of his institution. Nargis Sethi, a senior, distinguished and powerful civil servant, whose career has benefited in no uncertain terms from her proximity to the prime minister, would obviously watch his back. The civil servant, other commission members and most notably the chairman have all maintained silence and can’t be cited for indiscretion. But, given that his institution, of which the ISI is in an integral part, has come in for most flak on the issue as both its competence and its intentions have been called into question, the general may have felt constrained to share his ‘personal views’ what if a shade prematurely. While the Musharraf years saw the MQM allowed complete sway over Karachi, Hyderabad and other MQM-majority urban centres more or less to the exclusion of other ethnic groups, the set-up that emerged after the last elections has tried often crudely and in bloody battles to redress the situation.

Zulfikar Mirza was articulating the sentiments of his constituents. In doing so, he was cementing his party’s position in its support base in Sindh rather than merely expressing his ‘personal views’. This was so well explained in his column by Cyril Almeida in this paper soon after Mirza’s outburst. As for the TV reporter, his channel wouldn’t even think of heaping opprobrium on him as he brought such a cracking story to it. In fact, he may have earned the gratitude of the entire industry for the story soon acquired such running legs that it continued to generate excitement. That the minister may have been egged on and that the resultant violence left many dead, injured and hundreds stripped of their means of livelihood as their buses and shops were torched by those who had risen in ‘spontaneous’ protest appeared marginal to the whole affair. One wonders why generals, politicians and even media people bother with pretences. Nobody is fooled when terms such as ‘personal views’ and ‘spontaneous’ protests are used. There is only one leader who needs no such subterfuge. His every word is owned as policy by his party. But as recent events underlined one hopes he doesn’t wait more than 36 hours to go public with his views or, shall we say, to make a policy statement. The writer is a former editor of Dawn. REFERENCE: Of personal views that aren’t By Abbas Nasir | From the Newspaper July 23, 2011 (3 days ago) http://www.dawn.com/2011/07/23/of-personal-views-that-arent.html

But Jinnah had never dreamt of Controlled and Guided Democracy by Military Dictator as well as he never dreamt of that a Military Dictator would be addressing a forum founded by a Lawyer of Impeccable Character i.e. Mohammad Ali Jinnah

KARACHI, May 25: President Pervez Musharraf on Friday described the media as the country’s first line of defence and assured of unhindered support for the freedom of expression, but at the same time warned against the growing trend of sensationalisation, and said that repeated projection of gory incidents and violence on television was brutalising society. He was speaking at a ceremony to launch the test transmission of DawnNews television. While praising the launching of the country’s first 24-hour English language news channel, President Musharraf described it as a unique event. But at the same time he did not hesitate in taking full credit for the mushrooming of private television channels, saying that whatever freedom there was in the country it was only because of him. “I alone had insisted that we must give them freedom so that the media could hold everyone accountable,” he said while recalling the early years in power when he had framed the media policy.

Gen Musharraf rejected the long-stated view of the journalist fraternity that the freedom of press in the country was the result of their campaign and persistent demand and said he was not aware of any such demand when he decided to ‘give this freedom’. It was quite apparent that the president had come to the launching ceremony to not just praise the media, or take credit for his policy, but also to speak his mind about the prevailing trends in newspapers and television channels. And although he repeatedly assured the select audience, and the country at large, that such level of independence would continue, President Musharraf’s insistence was that such freedom should come with a certain level of responsibility. He gave examples from the television coverage of the war in Iraq, and said while western media never showed bodies of their own soldiers, they had no hesitation in showing the images of the bodies of Saddam Hussain and his sons. The other example he gave was of the recent killings in one of the schools in the United States by a gunman, and said the American television networks made a conscious decision not to show the dead bodies. While presenting his argument, President Musharraf raised the issue of what he described as the trend of repeatedly showing gory images, blood and killings. He said such images were telecast round the clock as if they were from an India-Pakistan cricket match. Similarly, he said the way religious extremism was glorified by showing militants in Waziristan, or the clerics of Lal Masjid, and the manner in which their views were aired, amounted to ‘brutalisation of society’.

Indirectly holding the media partly responsible for the state of affairs in the country, President Musharraf said it was creating unnecessary alarm amongst overseas Pakistani and other potential investors. He was of the view that if the media failed to demonstrate what he called a certain level of responsibility in the projection of Pakistan, then it may have a negative impact on the economic and social progress of the country. He then went on to present a long list of development activities and his government’s achievements in the fields of economy, education, telecommunication, and even human rights. He said there were thousands of such projects that he was in a position to highlight, but according to him, the media had little time to report on such matters. In his words, the media was only interested in projecting negative events. President Musharraf said like in many other countries, in Pakistan too the media need to consider what was in the nation’s interest. He said while it was equally important to present, what he described as negative stories, President Musharraf said in order to raise the morale of the people, the media must also highlight ‘positive events’.

Touching on the present state of affairs, President Musharraf said the feedback he was getting through interaction, and not merely from the intelligence agencies, was that the majority was pleased with his policies. He described the demonstrations held in support of the chief justice as politically motivated events by a few, and claimed that the bulk of the population in the country was with him. He even gave the example of the turnout in some of the rallies he had recently addressed, and said although buses for bringing the people had to be hired, “more than 90 per cent people attended these public meetings on their own as they wanted to listen to what I had to say”. He said one of the biggest challenges faced by the country was the scourge of extremism and terrorism. He was of the view that if the media made a conscious effort to support the government on this issue, it may become extremely easy to tackle this problem.

Earlier, in his welcome address Hameed Haroon, chief executive of the Dawn group of newspapers, presented the history and traditions followed by Dawn since its first publication 60 years ago by Quaid-i-Azam Mohammed Ali Jinnah. Mr Haroon said although DawnNews was being run by a new and much younger team, its philosophy was not going to any different from that of Dawn newspaper. Agencies add: The president said he was a firm believer that ‘a free and vibrant media’ was good for the country. “Media is the fourth pillar of the state. I see it as the first line of defence and an essential ingredient of democracy, but it has to be responsible,” he observed. “I expect a balanced and true picture that can provide confidence to Pakistanis living abroad and here I believe media can contribute tremendously towards fighting extremism and terrorism,” the president said. He felt a ‘negative projection’ of the country might affect the economy by scaring investors away.“We need to develop national cohesion, underplay what can lower the nation’s morale and encourage what can raise it.” REFERENCE: ‘Media first line of defence’: DawnNews TV’s test transmission By Our Staff Reporter May 26, 2007 Saturday Jamadi-ul-Awwal 09, 1428 http://archives.dawn.com/dawnftp/72.249.57.55/dawnftp/2007/05/26/top4.htm

"QUOTE"

In reaction to the statement, the Mohajir Rabita Council demanded that Dr Zulfikar Mirza and Awami National Party leader Shahi Syed leave Karachi within 48 hours otherwise strong protests against them would continue. However, the MRC suspended the protests when MQM chief Altaf Hussain appealed to the people to end all peaceful demonstrations, said MRC General Secretary Arshad Siddiqui on Thursday evening. REFERENCE: 15 killed, 32 vehicles torched during MQM protest By S. Raza Hassan | From the Newspaper July 15, 2011 (2 weeks ago) http://www.dawn.com/2011/07/15/15-killed-32-vehicles-torched-during-mqm-protest.html

ISLAMABAD: Twelve journalists have been declared "enemies" by an organisation linked to a party that supports President Musharraf, a media rights group said. The New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists said in a statement on Saturday that the Karachi-based Muhajir Rabita Council has "listed 12 journalists by name and identified them as 'enemies.'" The CJP did not say why the designations were made, but they seem to be linked with coverage of violence in Karachi on May 12 in which some 41 people were killed and dozens wounded, many from gunfire. Minister of State for Information Senator Tariq Azeem Khan said he was unaware of any such list. The CPJ said the council is closely associated with Muttahida Qaumi Movement, an ethnic-based party that is centred in Karachi and strongly backs Musharraf. A Muttahida lawmaker denied the group was involved in threatening journalists. "Threatening anyone is not our policy," said Haider Rizvi, an MQM MNA. Members of the Muhajir Rabita Council could not be reached for comment. The media rights group said that after the Muhajir Rabita Council publicised its list of "enemies," Syed Huma Ali, president of the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists, received anonymous threatening phone calls. "Threats against journalists are mounting in Pakistan and the government must take immediate steps not only to protect journalists, but also to actively seek out and bring to justice those that would harm them," Bob Dietz, CPJ's Asia programme coordinator, said in the group's statement. Tariq Azeem Khan said Pakistan has "unprecedented freedom for press and journalists." "So far we have no news of anyone (being) singled out for maltreatment or any threat," he added. REFERENCE: CPJ condemns list of ‘enemy’ journalists Monday, May 28, 2007 http://thenews.com.pk/TodaysPrintDetail.aspx?ID=8152&Cat=13&dt=5/30/2007

Muhajir Rabita Council dismisses apology

Updated at: 1311 PST, Thursday, July 14, 2011

KARACHI: The Muhajir Rabita Council has dismissed the apology made by Interior Minister Rehman Malik Thursday, Geo News reported. According to general secretary of the council Arshad Siddiqui, MQM workers are demanding that Zulfiqar Mirza should personally apologize to MQM Chief Altaf Hussian. According to the council, President Asif Ali Zardari should immediately remove Zulfiqar Mirza from his post and if this is not done then the president will be responsible for the situation in the city.

KARACHI: The APNS has welcomed the resignation of Federal Minister for Housing Syed Safwanullah of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, who resigned on Monday in compliance with his party’s directives. The APNS has repeatedly contacted the Muttahida Qaumi Movement on this issue following the May 22 hit list of anti-Muhajir “journalists” issued by the Muhajir Rabita Council. The APNS had urged the Muttahida Qaumi Movement to remove Safwanullah from his Ministry in the federal government as he was the President of the Muhajir Rabita Council at the time of issuance of the journalists’ hit list. The APNS believes that the Muttahida Qaumi Movement has acted effectively: firstly, in disassociating itself from the Muhajir Rabita Council statement, and secondly, after effecting Safwanullah’s resignation from the Muhajir Rabita Council, it has withdrawn him from the federal cabinet as a consequence of the hit list issued by the Muhajir Rabita Council during his tenure as its president. The only outstanding item from the agenda of the actions urged by the APNS is for the Muttahida Qaumi Movement leadership to persuade the Muhajir Rabita Council to withdraw the 13-members hit list of journalists that the Muhajir Rabita Council had earlier issued. REFERENCE: APNS welcomes Safwanullah’s resignation Wednesday, July 11, 2007 http://www.thenews.com.pk/TodaysPrintDetail.aspx?ID=8962&Cat=13&dt=7/13/2007

KARACHI: The Muhajir Rabita Council has dismissed the apology made by Interior Minister Rehman Malik Thursday, Geo News reported. According to general secretary of the council Arshad Siddiqui, MQM workers are demanding that Zulfiqar Mirza should personally apologize to MQM Chief Altaf Hussian. According to the council, President Asif Ali Zardari should immediately remove Zulfiqar Mirza from his post and if this is not done then the president will be responsible for the situation in the city. REFERENCE: Muhajir Rabita Council dismisses apology Updated 2 days ago http://www.thenews.com.pk/NewsDetail.aspx?ID=18701&title=Muhajir-Rabita-Council-dismisses-apology

KARACHI: The Muhajir Rabita Council (MRC) has demanded that Senior Provincial Minister Zulfiqar Mirza and ANP Sindh President Shahi Sayed leave Karachi within 48 hours otherwise strong protests would continue, Geo News reported. The General Secretary of MRC Arshad Siddqui in a statement said Zulfiqar Mirza had insulted the founders of Pakistan adding that he should come on the media and apologize to MQM Chief Altaf Hussain. Arshad Siddiqui said that the apology from Rehman Malik is not acceptable and MQM workers want Zulfiqar Mirza to apologize to the MQM chief. He said that President Asif Ali Zardari should take immediate action and remove Zulfiqar Mirza from his post and if the President did not remove Mirza than he would be responsible for the ensuing situation. REFERENCE: MRC issues ultimatum to Mirza, Sayed Updated 2 days ago http://www.thenews.com.pk/NewsDetail.aspx?ID=18704&title=MRC-issues-ultimatum-to-Mirza,-Sayed UK paper blames MQM for May 12 carnage Rauf Klasra Sunday, June 03, 2007 http://www.thenews.com.pk/TodaysPrintDetail.aspx?ID=8280&Cat=13&dt=6/1/2007

"UNQUOTE"

And in the same month of May 2007 leading Journalists received "Death Threats" from a group which is shamelessly given "Special Coverage" by Dawn News and Daily Dawn? What a joke, on one hand these Media Barons talk of Threats whereas the same Media give Special Coverage to the Rogue Elements who hurl threats to the Free Media? Who, Mr. Hameed Haroon and Mr. Abbas Nasir are trying to hoodwink (Yaani Mamon Bana Rahay Hein)

KARACHI, May 25: The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has expressed resentment over a press release issued on May 22 by the Mohajir Rabita Council (MRC) that “included a list of journalists described as chauvinistic, among other insults”. A statement issued by IFJ said: “It is alleged that the list included Zaffar Abbas (resident editor, Dawn, Islamabad), Mazhar Abbas (AFP bureau chief in Karachi), Azhar Abbas (DawnNews TV channel), Ayaz Amir (Dawn), Sajid Mir (anchor of TV One), Shaheen Sehbai (head of ARY One World), Dr Shahid Masood (anchor of GEO TV), Aneeq Ahmed (anchor of ARY One World), Afsar Imam (Aaj TV), Zarar Khan (Bureau chief, AP, Karachi), Zahid Hussain (chief reporter, GEO) and Irfan Siddiqui (columnist, Nawa-i-Waqt).” The statement condemned the MRC press release and called it “very disappointing”. “The last thing Pakistani journalists need is future generations of enemies being developed,” IFJ president Christopher Warren is quoted in the statement as saying. “Threats such as these lead to self-censorship among journalists, which of course is the goal of the intimidators, but which is also a condition that governments who are committed to press freedom cannot allow to develop,” Mr Warren said. “Journalists need to know that they will be protected from threats or attack, and the Pakistani government needs to step up and provide that protection,” he said. REFERENCE: IFJ enraged by MRC’s threat to journalists May 26, 2007 Saturday Jamadi-ul-Awwal 09, 1428 http://archives.dawn.com/dawnftp/72.249.57.55/dawnftp/2007/05/26/nat6.htm

KARACHI, May 24: The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), in an appeal to all media groups, has called for immediate safety and security measures for journalists, including comprehensive life insurance, in view of increasing incidents of violence and threats against them. In a statement issued here on Thursday, the PFUJ expressed concern over what it termed record rise in incidents of violence against journalists and other media personnel in 2007. Terming unacceptable a recent press release issued by the Muhajir Rabita Council, which had named some journalists and columnists as chauvinists, the PFUJ urged the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) to use its influence on organisations like the MRC to withdraw the statement, as it would not only create a feeling of insecurity among media personnel but would also harm the democratic culture and freedom of expression in the country. REFERENCE: PFUJ demands adequate security May 25, 2007 Friday Jamadi-ul-Awwal 08, 1428 http://archives.dawn.com/dawnftp/72.249.57.55/dawnftp/2007/05/25/nat17.htm

KARACHI, May 25: The All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS) has urged the president and prime minister to take notice of recent statements of Mohajir Rabita Council (MRC) and MQM Rabita Committee against journalists and said that such deliberations may generate hatred against the press. In a statement signed by APNS secretary-general Mohammad Aslam Kazi, it was said that the society was concerned over the statements of the MRC and the Rabita Committee “denouncing journalists and analysts in the print and electronic media as being anti-Mohajir and biased chauvinists”. In the statement of the MRC, which was issued by four high ranking office-bearers, 13 leading journalists from the print and electronic media were named in a publicly announced hit list as ‘Mohajir dushman’ (enemies of Mohajirs), the APNS statement said, adding that the president of the MRC, Syed Safwanullah, a Muttahida Qaumi Movement minister in the federal government, upon contact had expressed his ignorance about the statement and promised a contradiction, which remained unrealised so far. According to the APNS, another statement issued in the names of two members of the MQM Rabita Committee, Mohammad Ashfaque and Javed Kazmi, had used almost the same expressions as the MRC and hurled similar charges. The APNS believed that the statements of both the MRC and the Rabita Committee against journalists “are likely to provoke hatred against the press in general and incite supporters of the two parties to the possible commission of an offence against those journalists named in the statements,” it said. It urged the MQM committee to formally denounce the inclusion of a hit list in the Rabita Council’s statement and to persuade them to withdraw the inflammatory declaration and also re-examine the statements issued by two of its members, and withdraw it as well in the interest of better relations between political parties and the press. REFERENCE: APNS assails statements of MRC against journalists May 26, 2007 Saturday Jamadi-ul-Awwal 09, 1428 http://archives.dawn.com/dawnftp/72.249.57.55/dawnftp/2007/05/26/nat5.htm

Karachi --- The Mohajir Rabita Council has condemned death threats to some Karachi-based journalists, and described it as yet another conspiracy to malign Mohajirs. It demanded a high level inquiry into the matter and punishment to the culprits. In a statement faxed to Dawn by its press secretary Minhajul Arfeen, MRC's Senior Vice-President Yaqoob Bandhani, General Secretary Tasadduq Hussain, Finance Secretary Ms Raeesa Mohani and members of the working committee claimed that they had come to know from the print and electronic media that some unidentified people had dropped envelopes containing bullets and threatening letters in the vehicles of three journalists. It may be pointed out that cars of the two reporters and photographer were parked outside the Karachi Press Club when the envelops were discovered. Each envelope contained only one bullet and no threatening letter. The media also reported accordingly. Demanding a high level inquiry into what it described as a deplorable threat to journalists, the MRC press release maintained that the organisation comprised elders who had played a pivotal role in the creation of Pakistan and had always, through peaceful means, struggled for the rights of Mohajirs. It maintained that after the May 12 mayhem in the city, conspirators had expedited their drive against Mohajirs, and claimed that the envelopes with bullet and threatening letters were part of that conspiracy. REFERENCE: Mohajir community denies allegations that they threatened journalists Dawn Thursday, May 31, 2007 Asia Media PAKISTAN: Threats to journalists termed 'conspiracy against Mohajirs' http://www.international.ucla.edu/asia/news/article.asp?parentid=71119

Karachi --- The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has expressed resentment over a press release issued on May 22 by the Mohajir Rabita Council (MRC) that "included a list of journalists described as chauvinistic, among other insults".

The statement condemned the MRC press release and called it "very disappointing". "The last thing Pakistani journalists need is future generations of enemies being developed," IFJ president Christopher Warren is quoted in the statement as saying. "Threats such as these lead to self-censorship among journalists, which of course is the goal of the intimidators, but which is also a condition that governments who are committed to press freedom cannot allow to develop," Mr Warren said. "Journalists need to know that they will be protected from threats or attack, and the Pakistani government needs to step up and provide that protection," he said.

APNS assails statements of MRC against journalists

Karachi --- The All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS) has urged the president and prime minister to take notice of recent statements of Mohajir Rabita Council (MRC) and MQM Rabita Committee against journalists and said that such deliberations may generate hatred against the press. In a statement signed by APNS secretary-general Mohammad Aslam Kazi, it was said that the society was concerned over the statements of the MRC and the Rabita Committee “denouncing journalists and analysts in the print and electronic media as being anti-Mohajir and biased chauvinists”. In the statement of the MRC, which was issued by four high ranking office-bearers, 13 leading journalists from the print and electronic media were named in a publicly announced hit list as ‘Mohajir dushman' (enemies of Mohajirs), the APNS statement said, adding that the president of the MRC, Syed Safwanullah, a Muttahida Qaumi Movement minister in the federal government, upon contact had expressed his ignorance about the statement and promised a contradiction, which remained unrealised so far. According to the APNS, another statement issued in the names of two members of the MQM Rabita Committee, Mohammad Ashfaque and Javed Kazmi, had used almost the same expressions as the MRC and hurled similar charges. The APNS believed that the statements of both the MRC and the Rabita Committee against journalists “are likely to provoke hatred against the press in general and incite supporters of the two parties to the possible commission of an offence against those journalists named in the statements,” it said. It urged the MQM committee to formally denounce the inclusion of a hit list in the Rabita Council's statement and to persuade them to withdraw the inflammatory declaration and also re-examine the statements issued by two of its members, and withdraw it as well in the interest of better relations between political parties and the press. REFERENCE: Asia Media Date Posted: 5/25/2007 Council releases a list of journalists deemed subversive to society Dawn Friday, May 25, 2007 PAKISTAN: IFJ enraged by MRC's threat to journalists http://www.international.ucla.edu/article.asp?parentid=70724

KARACHI, May 29: In what appears to be a direct death threat, bullets were found on Tuesday night in the cars of three senior journalists parked outside the Karachi Press Club. The cars belonged to secretary-general of Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists Mazhar Abbas, Zarar Khan and photojournalist Asif Hussain. When the journalists opened their vehicles, each of them found a bullet wrapped in a brown paper envelope. It may be pointed out that names of Mazhar Abbas and Zarar Khan had appeared in a statement of the Mohajir Rabita Council in which they were described as anti-Mohajir chauvanists. The journalists immediately informed Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad Khan and IG Police Azhar A. Farooqi. An FIR was lodged with the police. The Karachi Union of Journalists has strongly condemned death threats to the journalists and demanded that the culprits be brought to justice. It also demanded that the organisations whose names have appeared in this connection must publicly denounce and disassociate itself from such terrorist activities. REFERENCE Journalists get death threats By Our Staff Reporter May 30, 2007 Wednesday Jamadi-ul-Awwal 13, 1428 http://archives.dawn.com/dawnftp/72.249.57.55/dawnftp/2007/05/30/nat4.htm

LAHORE, May 30: The Punjab Union of Journalists on Wednesday staged a demonstration in front of the Lahore Press Club to condemn death threats to three senior Karachi journalists. A large number of city journalists carrying placards and banners urged the government to protect journalists. They also raised slogans against the MQM and the government. The journalists given death threats included Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists Secretary General Mazhar Abbas, Zarar Khan and Asif Hussain. Speaking on the occasion, PUJ President Arif Hameed Bhatti and General Secretary Amer Raza urged the government to take stern action against the MQM, and ban it. It should also expose those disturbing peace in Karachi, they said. They also urged the Punjab government to ban the entry of the members of the party into Punjab.

They said the union would give a call for a hunger strike if the government failed to protect journalists who would continue to perform their duty without caring for the consequences. Meanwhile, in a statement the South Asia Media Commission (SAMC) expressed its anger over threats to the life and property of journalists in Karachi and Peshawar given by, what it said, different extremist organizations. It urged the Pakistani authorities to protect the journalists. The statement issued by SAMC Regional Coordinator Husain Naqi here said the life threats to the three Karachi journalists came a week after a shadowy organization, The Mohajir Rabita Council with links to the MQM, a party that supports military ruler President Pervez Musharraf, issued a list of a dozen journalists, declaring them as enemies, it said.

It said on May 25 gunmen attacked the Peshawar home of Daily Times cartoonist Muhammad Zahoor at around 2am. Four-time winner of the All Pakistan Newspaper Society’s annual best cartoonist award, Zahoor had drawn many cartoons on the Supreme Court chief justice’s dismissal in recent weeks. The home of Nasrullah Afridi, the Urdu language daily Mashriq in the Khyber Agency section of the Tribal Areas, came under grenade attack after death threats made against him five days earlier by the head of Lashkar-i-Islam. “We believe it is a very serious threat to working journalists. It is an attempt to muzzle the free media. The government should arrest those behind the threats,” SAMC Chairperson N Ram and General Secretary Najam Sethi said. They said journalists needed to know that they would be protected from threats or attack. “If the government fails to do so, we will be justified in believing that there is complicity of the government in the current campaign to harass journalists,” they said. They said the Muhajir Rabita Council had issued a threatening statement on May 22 with a list of some 20 journalists it described as chauvinist and hostile to their movement. REFERENCE: PUJ rally condemns threats to journalists By our Staff Reporter May 31, 2007 Thursday Jamadi-ul-Awwal 14, 1428 http://archives.dawn.com/dawnftp/72.249.57.55/dawnftp/2007/05/31/nat45.htm

HYDERABAD, May 30: Journalists staged protest demonstrations and held rallies in different parts of Sindh on Wednesday against the issuance of life threats to PFUJ secretary-general Mazhar Abbas, AP correspondent Zarar Khan and photographer Asif Hussain, and attack on Shakeel Turrabi, Editor-in-Chief, Sana News. Members of the press club and Hyderabad Union of Journalists demonstrated against the harassment of journalists by ‘terrorists.’ President Hyderabad Press Club Shahid Shaikh said this was only a symbolic protest demonstration but if such threats were not stopped media people will resort to direct action. NAWABSHAH: Journalists of Nawabshah staged demonstration outside the press club. They carried placards and raised slogans in favour of press freedom. Speaking on the occasion, Mohammad Anwar Shaikh said that the government was claiming that press and media were free but threats were being issued to journalists. The members condemned such threats. JACOBABAD: Journalists of Jacobabad took out a rally led by Nazar Abbas Shah, president district union of journalists, while activists of political parties and social organisations also participated in it. Protesters staged a sit-in near the DCO Chowk. REFERENCE: Threats to journalists condemned May 30, 2007 Wednesday Jamadi-ul-Awwal 13, 1428 http://archives.dawn.com/dawnftp/72.249.57.55/dawnftp/2007/05/31/nat31.htm

KARACHI, May 29: In what appears to be a direct death threat, bullets were found on Tuesday night in the cars of three senior journalists parked outside the Karachi Press Club. The cars belonged to secretary-general of Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists Mazhar Abbas, Zarar Khan and photojournalist Asif Hussain. When the journalists opened their vehicles, each of them found a bullet wrapped in a brown paper envelope. It may be pointed out that names of Mazhar Abbas and Zarar Khan had appeared in a statement of the Mohajir Rabita Council in which they were described as anti-Mohajir chauvanists. The journalists immediately informed Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad Khan and IG Police Azhar A. Farooqi. An FIR was lodged with the police. The Karachi Union of Journalists has strongly condemned death threats to the journalists and demanded that the culprits be brought to justice. It also demanded that the organisations whose names have appeared in this connection must publicly denounce and disassociate itself from such terrorist activities. REFERENCE: Dawn Report Journalists get death threats By Our Staff Reporter May 30, 2007 Wednesday Jamadi-ul-Awwal 13, 1428 http://archives.dawn.com/dawnftp/72.249.57.55/dawnftp/2007/05/30/nat4.htm